Wellness Wednesday: Me Time

Wake up, morning routine, breakfast, out the door, traffic, work, work, work, lunch, work some more, work, work, work, grocery store, errands, traffic, home, dinner, phone calls, emails, facebook, myspace, twitter, bedtime.

Breathe….

There is something missing here. The average person is busier than ever, often times jugging a job, a home life, a social life, and everything in between. How do we achieve balance? We step out of bed and we practically hit the ground running, leaving little time to stand still or think of anything other than what’s next to do on our schedules. What happened to the idea of slowing down, appreciating life more, and remembering to LIVE? Have we forgotten those simple things that our spirit longs for?

Did you know that something as small as taking 15 minutes a day to sit in silence, meditate, close your eyes, pray, write down your thoughts, take a walk, talk to a friend, play the guitare, whatever it is for you, can make an unbelievable difference in mood, energy, and quality of life? Furthermore, it will be fuel for managing the constant flow of demands that can wear down your batteries.

Let’s say that you need to rejuvenate or replenish your energy but you might not be able to afford an exotic retreat or an all exclusive getaway. No problem! How about instead you do something much simpler and make a retreat in your home. (Say what??) That’s right, let’s take it to the home front. Turn off your phone, your computer, your television and all other electronic distractions and plan your escape. It’s much more practical.

Set up a mini retreat in your home. This is less expensive than a major vacation, much easier to plan, the follow through will be a breeze, and the benefits are endless. Here are some suggestions to get you thinking:

• Stop by a craft store and pick up a new project kit to try (tie dying, paint by numbers, knitting/crochet, fabric/tshirt decorating, wood painting, stain glass sun catchers, etc)
• Go to your local bookstore and splurge on a couple great books
• Make it a point to rent new movies on a schedule so that you get the opportunity to do something for you
• Buy a relaxing CD (meditation, nature sounds, light instrumental solos), then close your eyes in your favorite chair and let the tunes take you away
• Go to your local bookstore and invest in a journal for writing (pick the journal that speaks to you because of its shape and design)
• If you enjoy pets but can’t have one at this time, volunteer at the local shelter to walk the dogs or spend time with rescued cats that need attention
• Volunteer for a cause that you truly enjoy (like working with children for example)
• Treat yourself to a delicious meal or dessert, set the table and style the plate with love, and then savor the flavor of every bite
• If you want to make a day trip/weekend out of it, do a little research for local getaways (visiting local museums, going to a concert, hiking on a nearby trail, camping in a National Park, visiting a day spa, going biking or other outdoor sports, or just picking a winding road and driving with the wind in your hair)

The company you work for pays you money for your time, but how do you pay yourself? We suggest with something more important than money….time. Making time for yourself, whether it is 15 minutes a day or 1 day out of the week, will allow you to decompress and obtain clarity of mind. These little moments when you take time to be aware of yourself and your needs break up the “gotta do this now” routine that we often fall into.

You deserve better. You deserve you. Take out your planner, or write on a post-it note. Whatever it takes,  schedule in some me time.

Resources:

Get Some Me Time by Will Meek, PH.D. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/09/19/get-some-me-time/
More Important than Money – Paying Myself With My Time by Sid Savara, http://www.sidsavara.com
The Importance of Me Time – Indulging or a Necessity? by Jan Hoadley http://www.associatedcontent.com

By rawfoodnation Tags: decompress, lifestyle, me time
Posted in Lifestyle Tips, Wellness Weds | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Wellness Wednesday: Me Time”

1. Elena says:

   July 8, 2009 at 8:03 am

   Thank you for the reminder. I really need to slow down sometimes and just live IN THE MOMENT! Although I do some things that you mention, but it seems that I do them in a hurry sometimes too. The best days I have is when I get up at least 20 mins earlier, do a great stretching exercise and then start the day, savoring every moment… not so much when I “snooze” a time or two.

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